The 25 worst cover songs of all time, ranked

Even great musicians with the best intentions can serve up a bad cover of a cherished song. In some cases they might try too hard to be faithful to the original, leading to an interpretation that’s too stiff or slick. Or they can alter a song until it contains just the vaguest air of what made the first version special. In some cases they can wildly misconstrue the classic track, turning their take into a memorable monstrosity.

Whatever the reason for the failings by these artists, there’s no disputing that the original songs remain beloved, which is why brutally bad updates can be so difficult to swallow. This list of the 25 worst cover songs, like our look at the 25 best cover songs of all time, doesn’t pretend to be comprehensive. Still, as we surveyed the last five decades of pop and rock music, we’ve done our best to corral the truly awful covers and order them in a way that metes out some semblance of order, if not justice.

24. MC Hammer, “Have You Seen Her” (1990)

At the height of his fame, MC Hammer revived “Have You Seen Her,” a gorgeous early 1970s smooth soul ballad by the Chi-Lites. That original single is a gossamer wonder, and Hammer fumbles it mightily. His heavier beat does the song no favors, but the true grievous injury is Hammer’s half sung, half rapped delivery. Vacillating between nostalgia and contemporary boasts, he never misses an opportunity to lay on the cheese, resulting in a cover that’s diametrically opposed to the emotion of the original.